Program Director: Joseph Wall, Ph.D.

The curriculum for the undergraduate Accelerating Ingenuity in Markets (AIM) major prepares ethical future business leaders to apply logic and creativity to develop, refine, and evaluate business opportunities. All aspects of business are essential in understanding how organizations work and ensuring financial sustainability is achieved with integrity. AIM, therefore, pulls from nearly all disciplines to focus on an education founded on disruptive value creation.

Students studying Accelerating Ingenuity in Markets (referred to as AIM) must complete an additional primary major within the College of Business. This major can be completed without a concentration, or a student can pursue one of three possible concentrations: AIM CFA: Investments, AIM Applied FinTech: AI and Business Intelligence, or AIM Private Capital & Investment Banking.

Students are encouraged to apply to the AIM program when they are ready, typically during freshman year or at the beginning of the fall term of their sophomore year. Acceptance into this major and any associated concentrations is limited and based on:

• Overall academic performance
• Strong performance in courses relevant to investments and disruptive technologies (e.g., accounting, analytics, economics, engineering, ethics, finance, math, programming, science, sales)
• A project, one-pager, or essay demonstrating interest
• Resume 
• Interview

For more information on the AIM program contact the AIM program executive director, Dr. Joseph Wall at 414-288-7245 or joseph.wall@marquette.edu. Or click here to learn more and apply; https://www.marquette.edu/business/aim/application.php.

Specific Accelerating Ingenuity in Markets Course Requirements:

AIM No Concentration

Note: Any waivers/transfers of course requirements must be approved by both the AIM program director and the assistant dean for undergraduate programs.

a. Students must complete 10 hours of community service per term, monitored by the AIM program executive director. 

b. A Non-Fungible Token (NFT) is issued by the AIM program certifying completion of the AIM major.

AIM CFA: INVESTMENTS Concentration

AIM CFA: Investments allows a select group of finance majors to get hands-on academic and financial analysis experience, including an opportunity to actively manage domestic and international equity and fixed-income portfolios. It is designed for students interested in becoming Chartered Financial Analysts (CFAs), preparing them to begin a career in the money management industry. CFA: Investments, therefore, is rooted in the foundations of valuation.

Students in the CFA: Investments Concentration must also have a declared primary major in Finance (15 credits).

Note: Any waivers/transfers of course requirements must be approved by both the AIM program executive director and the assistant dean for undergraduate programs.

a. Students accepted into the CFA: Investments concentration must earn a B- or better in all primary and secondary major requirements (including FINA 3001 Introduction to Financial Management, FINA 4001 Advanced Financial Management, FINA 4011 Investment Analysis, and AIM 4996 AIM Being the Difference).

b. All students in the CFA: Investments concentration must complete 10 hours of community service per term, monitored by the AIM executive director.

c. Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.000 during the entire program. Failure to meet academic standards in any term may result in the student being dropped from the AIM major.

d. If at any time a student leaves or is dropped from the CFA: Investments concentration, all credits earned at that point are applied towards degree requirements to complete a student’s primary major or to requirements in the business administration major.

e. A Non-Fungible Token (NFT) is issued by the AIM program certifying completion of the AIM major.

f. Dual enrollment in multiple AIM concentrations is not permitted.

AIM APPLIED FINTECH: AI AND BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE Concentration

AIM Applied FinTech: AI and Business Intelligence allows a select group of Marquette students to get hands-on experience using, developing, and refining high potential disruptive technologies for financial advantage. Disruptive technologies have the potential to change the world as we know it. Thus, Applied FinTech: AI and Business Intelligence is focused on ethical value creation.

Note: Any waivers/transfers of course requirements must be approved by both the AIM program executive director and the assistant dean for undergraduate programs.

a. Students accepted into the Applied FinTech: AI and Business Intelligence concentration must earn a B- or better in AIM major specific courses (including AIM 4410 Identifying, Building, Creating and Communicating FinTech Opportunities, FINA 4075 FinTech Foundations and Applications, AIM 4996 AIM Being the Difference).

b. All students in the Applied FinTech: AI and Business Intelligence concentration must complete 10 hours of community service per term, monitored by the AIM program executive director.

c. Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.000 during the entire program. Failure to meet academic standards in any term may result in the student being dropped from the AIM major.

d. If at any time a student leaves or is dropped from the Applied FinTech: AI and Business Intelligence concentration, all credits earned at that point are applied towards degree requirements to complete a student’s primary major or to requirements in the business administration major.

e. A Non-Fungible Token (NFT) is issued by the AIM Program certifying completion of the AIM major.

f.  Dual enrollment in multiple AIM concentrations is not permitted.

AIM private capital & investment banking concentration

This concentration immerses a select group of Marquette students in the intricate world of private capital (private equity, private debt, venture capital, etc.) and investment banking, emphasizing ethical stewardship, strategic growth, and value creation. Students gain hands-on experience evaluating and structuring high-impact financial deals, from mergers and acquisitions to capital raises. Through applied learning, they refine skills in financial analysis, strategic advising, and deal execution, preparing them to leverage market opportunities and navigate the complexities of global capital markets responsibly.

Note: Any waivers/transfers of course requirements must be approved by both the AIM program executive director and the assistant dean for undergraduate programs.

a. Students accepted into the Private Capital and Investment Banking concentration must earn a B- or better in AIM major specific courses (including ACCO 4080 Financial Statement Analysis OR FINA 4075 FinTech Foundations and Applications, AIM 4996 AIM Being the Difference).

b. All students in the Private Capital and Investment Banking concentration must complete 10 hours of community service per term, monitored by the AIM program executive director.

c. Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.000 during the entire program. Failure to meet academic standards in any term may result in the student being dropped from the AIM major.

d. If at any time a student leaves or is dropped from the Private Capital and Investment Banking concentration, all credits earned at that point are applied towards degree requirements to complete a student’s primary major or to requirements in the business administration major.

e. A Non-Fungible Token (NFT) is issued by the AIM Program certifying completion of the AIM major.

f. Dual enrollment in multiple AIM concentrations is not permitted.

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